Latest news with #OnPathEnergy
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish Labour leader and UK Energy Minister visit major Scottish wind farm
Key political voices in high praise of energy developers Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, and UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks have visited a pioneering wind farm in South Lanarkshire. During the visit to OnPath Energy's Kype Muir Wind Farm site, Mr Sarwar and Mr Shanks met with senior representatives from the firm, receiving a tour of the development, learning about the history of the project and the benefits it continues to deliver. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Home to 26 turbines, Kype Muir Wind Farm generates enough renewable energy to power over 63,000 homes annually while providing over £11m in community benefits across its 25-year lifespan. L-R Richard Dunkley - CEO (OnPath Energy), Gordon Thomson - Projects Director (OnPath Energy), Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Anas Sarwar – Leader of Scottish Labour Party, Lee Wilkinson – Senior Police and Market Affairs Manager (OnPath Energy), Aileen McCreadie – Partnerships & Community Manager (OnPath Energy), Robin Winstanley – Sustainability & Community Director (OnPath Energy), Euan Wright – Wind Farm Manager (Kype Muir Wind Farm) The project is delivering significant benefits to the surrounding area, with over £700,000 distributed to local communities through the Kype Muir Community Panel Fund (KMCP) as part of its OnPath Together commitment. Each area is represented by two members on the KMCP panel, ensuring a broad and inclusive approach to decision-making. The fund was further bolstered with the launch of the Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension developed by OnPath Energy (now owned by funds managed by Schroders Greencoat), which added a further 15 turbines to the overall site taking the lifetime community benefits of both sites to over £21m. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Anas Sarwar, Leader of Scottish Labour said: 'It was fantastic to visit OnPath Energy to see their site at Kype Muir and learn about all the work they do. 'Businesses like OnPath are at the cutting edge of the transition to clean energy and have a vital role to play in delivering energy security and driving down bills. 'Scottish Labour will work hand in hand with companies like OnPath and the U.K government to put Scotland at the heart of the energy transition.' After Kype Muir Wind Farm became the first project in the UK to secure consent for 132-meter turbines, OnPath Energy launched in 2019, the Kype Muir Community Partnership (KMCP) which was established to ensure nearby communities benefit directly from the wind farm's success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The initiative has proven highly effective, empowering five local community council areas to reinvest a share of the revenue into projects that are tailored to local issues and identified by local people. The purpose is to make community-driven action facilitate long-lasting benefits for the community's surrounding the projects. In addition, the community fund supported a jobs and skills collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council which has supported over 2000 people into employment or education. Notably, in collaboration with NATS, OnPath Energy (then Banks Renewables) funded a new radar system in 2019 for Glasgow Airport, which enabled the development of not only Kype Muir Wind Farm, it also unlocked £500m worth of development in the area from other projects. Kype Muir Wind Farm was also the first onshore wind site to benefit from the UK Governments Contract for Difference having taken part in Auction Round 1. Michael Shanks, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and MP for Rutherglen said: 'OnPath Energy is leading the way in green energy and it was an honour to meet with them and learn more about the project's they lead. The Labour Government is committed to delivering the clean energy of the future and the jobs Scotland needs." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gordon Thomson, projects director at OnPath Energy said: 'It's been a pleasure to welcome Mr Sarwar and Mr Shanks to Kype Muir Wind Farm today and to share with them the story of a project that has come to symbolise what's possible in Scotland's transition to renewable energy. 'We set out with the vision to create something special here, and since going operational, Kype Muir has done just that, generating clean energy, creating local jobs, and delivering meaningful support through the KMCP. 'In addition to this, the launch of Kype Muir Extension was a huge moment for the renewables sector in Scotland, not just in terms of the scale and ambition of the engineering involved, but also in how it set a new benchmark for community involvement and benefit. 'These two sites have empowered communities to lead the way in identifying and funding local priorities, and we're incredibly proud of the lasting positive impact this model continues to have.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The original Kype Muir Wind Farm alone is expected to generate a lifetime local spend of approximately £123 million. Reflecting OnPath's ongoing commitment to supporting the local economy, local contractors were also prioritised throughout the construction and delivery of the Kype Muir Extension. Combined, both projects will contribute an estimated £188 million to the Scottish economy, with £159 million of that investment within a 60km radius of the site. Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director said: 'Onshore wind is the clear winner of any energy generation project when it comes to delivering social and economic value for communities in Scotland, with over 60% of the lifetime spend within 40 miles of the sites' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We firmly believe that renewable energy must also empower people and communities. 'Through our OnPath Together commitment, we're ensuring that our developments create long-lasting, tangible value for those who live and work closest to them. 'This includes shared community ownership, education bursaries, real living wage jobs, and £5,000 per MW of installed capacity as a baseline community benefit. 'It also means prioritising local contractors to stimulate regional economies and delivering nature-positive solutions that restore and enhance biodiversity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Together, Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension will generate over 155MW of renewable electricity annually, enough to power more than 123,000 homes, equivalent to a city larger than Aberdeen.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Scottish Labour leader and UK Energy Minister visit major Lanarkshire wind farm
Anas Sarwar and Michael Shanks, who is also the Rutherglen MP, were at Kype Muir Wind Farm. The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, and UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks have visited a pioneering wind farm in South Lanarkshire. During the trip to OnPath Energy's Kype Muir Wind Farm site, Mr Sarwar and Mr Shanks met with senior representatives from the firm, receiving a tour of the development, learning about the history of the project and the benefits it continues to deliver. Home to 26 turbines, Kype Muir Wind Farm generates enough renewable energy to power over 63,000 homes annually while providing over £11m in community benefits across its 25-year lifespan. The project is delivering significant benefits to the surrounding area, with over £700,000 distributed to local communities through the Kype Muir Community Panel Fund (KMCP) as part of its OnPath Together commitment. Each area is represented by two members on the KMCP panel, ensuring a broad and inclusive approach to decision-making. The fund was further bolstered with the launch of the Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension developed by OnPath Energy (now owned by funds managed by Schroders Greencoat), which added a further 15 turbines to the overall site taking the lifetime community benefits of both sites to over £21m. Mr Sarwar said: 'It was fantastic to visit OnPath Energy to see their site at Kype Muir and learn about all the work they do. 'Businesses like OnPath are at the cutting edge of the transition to clean energy and have a vital role to play in delivering energy security and driving down bills. 'Scottish Labour will work hand in hand with companies like OnPath and the UK government to put Scotland at the heart of the energy transition.' After Kype Muir Wind Farm became the first project in the UK to secure consent for 132-meter turbines, OnPath Energy launched in 2019, the Kype Muir Community Partnership (KMCP) which was established to ensure nearby communities benefit directly from the wind farm's success. The initiative has proven highly effective, empowering five local community council areas to reinvest a share of the revenue into projects that are tailored to local issues and identified by local people. The purpose is to make community-driven action facilitate long-lasting benefits for the community's surrounding the projects. In addition, the community fund supported a jobs and skills collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council which has supported over 2000 people into employment or education. Notably, in collaboration with NATS, OnPath Energy (then Banks Renewables) funded a new radar system in 2019 for Glasgow Airport, which enabled the development of not only Kype Muir Wind Farm, it also unlocked £500m worth of development in the area from other projects. Kype Muir Wind Farm was also the first onshore wind site to benefit from the UK Governments Contract for Difference having taken part in Auction Round 1. Mr Shanks, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and MP for Rutherglen, said: 'OnPath Energy is leading the way in green energy and it was an honour to meet with them and learn more about the project's they lead. 'The Labour Government is committed to delivering the clean energy of the future and the jobs Scotland needs. ' Gordon Thomson, projects director at OnPath Energy said: 'It's been a pleasure to welcome Mr Sarwar and Mr Shanks to Kype Muir Wind Farm today and to share with them the story of a project that has come to symbolise what's possible in Scotland's transition to renewable energy. 'We set out with the vision to create something special here, and since going operational, Kype Muir has done just that, generating clean energy, creating local jobs, and delivering meaningful support through the KMCP. 'In addition to this, the launch of Kype Muir Extension was a huge moment for the renewables sector in Scotland, not just in terms of the scale and ambition of the engineering involved, but also in how it set a new benchmark for community involvement and benefit. 'These two sites have empowered communities to lead the way in identifying and funding local priorities, and we're incredibly proud of the lasting positive impact this model continues to have.' The original Kype Muir Wind Farm alone is expected to generate a lifetime local spend of approximately £123 million. Reflecting OnPath's ongoing commitment to supporting the local economy, local contractors were also prioritised throughout the construction and delivery of the Kype Muir Extension. Combined, both projects will contribute an estimated £188 million to the Scottish economy, with £159 million of that investment within a 60km radius of the site. Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director said: 'Onshore wind is the clear winner of any energy generation project when it comes to delivering social and economic value for communities in Scotland, with over 60% of the lifetime spend within 40 miles of the sites. 'We firmly believe that renewable energy must also empower people and communities. 'Through our OnPath Together commitment, we're ensuring that our developments create long-lasting, tangible value for those who live and work closest to them. 'This includes shared community ownership, education bursaries, real living wage jobs, and £5,000 per MW of installed capacity as a baseline community benefit. 'It also means prioritising local contractors to stimulate regional economies and delivering nature-positive solutions that restore and enhance biodiversity.' Together, Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension will generate over 155MW of renewable electricity annually, enough to power more than 123,000 homes, equivalent to a city larger than Aberdeen. They are set to displace around 307,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, the equivalent of removing approximately 30,700 petrol cars from the road. * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Developer urges SMEs to attend £91m workstream event
Businesses across South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire are being urged to be part of a must-attend event offering the chance to be part of a lucrative supply chain for a new wind farm. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Since receiving planning permission in 2022, OnPath Energy's Mill Rig Wind Farm is set to inject £91 million into businesses within a 60km radius over its 30-year lifespan, supporting around 300 jobs. Glasgow-based civil engineering firm RJ McLeod is inviting a wide range of contractors to attend a Supplier Development Programme event, taking place at Rutherglen Town Hall on Wednesday 28 May from 2pm to 3.30pm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Robin Winstanley, sustainability & community director at OnPath Energy, said: "The Mill Rig Wind Farm will bring substantial environmental, energy security and community benefits to the local area. Alan Wells, senior project manager (OnPath Energy), Lorcan Hayes, contracts manager (RJ McLeod) and Martin Kellerman, construction director (OnPath Energy) 'We're committed to our 'OnPath Together' development approach, which ensures maximum benefit for the local economy by prioritising businesses and suppliers closest to our projects." "This event provides an excellent platform for local businesses and service providers to connect directly with our primary contractor and explore how they can contribute to this significant renewable energy development." A broad range of companies are being encouraged to attend, particularly those offering services such as electrical and plumbing, fencing, steel fixing, and joinery. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other priority sectors include agricultural suppliers, timber mills, builders' merchants, equipment hire firms, waterproofing and construction contractors, traffic management, and accommodation providers. The Supplier Development Programme will also be on hand to offer free tender training to SMEs looking to secure future work on the project. RJ McLeod has been appointed to deliver the balance of plant contract covering civil engineering, cabling and off-site highway construction. Jamie Corser from RJ McLeod said: 'These kinds of developments are more than just construction projects they bring long-term work, help sustain local jobs and give a real boost to the wider economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This event is a great chance for local businesses to find out how they can get involved and be part of something that will have leave lasting legacy in the area. 'OnPath Energy and RJ McLeod have a strong track record of involving local SMEs in their projects, and that's something we are really proud to be supporting with this event. 'If you think your business could play a part, I'd really encourage you to come along and make those connections.' The six-turbine Mill Rig Wind Farm, located on the border between South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire near Darvel, will have an installed capacity of 33.4MW, enough to power over 45,000 homes annually. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Beyond the immediate economic impact, OnPath Energy's Mill Rig Wind Farm will establish a community fund providing up to £167,000 annually to support local charities and community groups, equating to potentially £5 million over the project's 30-year lifespan. Additionally, £450,000 will be invested in local training and employment opportunities during the first five years of operation. Business representatives interested in attending this free event should register in advance at For more information about OnPath Energy and its community initiatives, please visit To learn more about OnPath Energy, please visit:
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Renewables developer powers over 145,000 Homes with Scottish wind
Wind farms power city double the size of Aberdeen Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The growing portfolio of Scottish onshore wind farms owned and operated by renewable energy firm OnPath Energy produced enough electricity last year to meet the annual power needs of more than 145,000 homes - or a city more than twice the size of Aberdeen. Over 422,000 MWh of electricity was generated by OnPath's Scottish wind farms during the 12 months to the end of 2024 – and by doing so, they displaced the equivalent annual carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity supply network of over 58,500 petrol cars. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 26-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire led the way by generating more than 190,000 MWh, with the 15-turbine Middle Muir Wind Farm producing just under 96,000 MWh. Richard Dunkley, CEO at OnPath Energy The seven-turbine Pates Hill Wind Farm in West Lothian, which OnPath Energy acquired in January this year, generated 33,400 MWh of green energy in 2024, while the 15-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension produced 101,800 MWh last year before OnPath's sale of its shares in the project to funds managed by Schroders Greencoat LLP last October. As part of the company's OnPath Together development approach, its Scottish wind farms also delivered combined revenues of almost £613,000 during 2024 to their respective community benefits funds, which provide financial support for projects being undertaken by groups and good causes in their surrounding communities. OnPath Energy, which has its Scottish office in Hamilton, is continuing to invest heavily in Scotland and recently secured planning permission for its first battery energy storage project, the Pond Flexible Energy Park near Bathgate in West Lothian. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is scheduled to begin construction work on the Mill Rig Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire in the coming months, while it is expecting to start building the Lethans and Lethans Extension Wind Farms near New Cumnock in East Ayrshire within the next eighteen months, and is currently working towards securing planning permission for the proposed Bodinglee Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire. Kype Muir Wind Farm Owned by Brookfield Asset Management, which manages the world's largest fund series dedicated to accelerating the transition to net zero, OnPath Energy is already one of the UK onshore renewable energy sector's leading owner/operators and is aiming to invest around one billion pounds in clean energy projects across the UK over the next five years. Richard Dunkley, CEO at OnPath Energy, says: 'OnPath has ambitious plans to make further capital investment in high-quality renewable energy infrastructure, both in Scotland and across the UK, and is continuing to grow in terms of our diversity of projects and technologies. 'Our commitment to delivering substantial amounts of funding for community improvement projects remains as strong as ever, with the dedication and creativity of the many groups we support every year always being hugely impressive, and we are also working to bring communities with us on the energy transition by creating industry-leading shared ownership commitments. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are now working towards increasing the contribution that we can make towards the UK achieving its clean power and Net Zero ambitions in order to amplify the difference we can make to a net zero future for the UK.'
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Consultations for newly proposed East Ayrshire wind farm to start
Locals in East Ayrshire urged to attend public exhibitions Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Locals in East Ayrshire are being urged to attend the first of two rounds of public exhibitions for a newly proposed wind farm in the Cumnock and Doon Valley area. Located within Netherthird on the Garleffan and Grievehill open-cast coal mine, OnPath Energy, formally Banks Renewables, recently submitted a scoping report for the eight-turbine site. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first exhibition will take place at New Cumnock Bowling Club on April 22 from 12pm to 7pm. This will be followed by a second event at Logan Day Centre on April 23 from 2pm to 7pm, and a final session at Netherthird Community Centre on April 24 from 12pm to 6pm. L-R Jemma Donnelly Head Teacher at Netherthird Primary, Aileen McCreadie Partnerships and Community Manager at OnPath Energy, Jaqueline Clapperton Principal Teacher OnPath Energy's partnerships and community manager Aileen McCreadie, said: 'We're keen for as many residents as possible to come along to the upcoming exhibitions and be part of shaping what this wind farm could look like. 'These sessions are a crucial step for us, we're not here to simply present plans, we're here to listen, to understand local priorities, and where possible to reflect them in the final proposals. "We want to hear from as many members of the community as possible, whether you have ideas for new walking routes, thoughts on what local residents need most, or concerns you'd like to share. We're here to listen, start conversations, and take meaningful action." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've already started engaging heavily with local organisations and one of the ways we're putting community at the centre is by asking local primary schools to help name the site and its turbines, ensuring the history and identity of this place is woven into its future. Located within Netherthird on the Garleffan and Grievehill open-cast coal mine, OnPath Energy, formally Banks Renewables, recently submitted a scoping report for the eight-turbine site. 'We would like to develop this project hand-in-hand with the local community, so that it becomes more than just a source of renewable energy, but a catalyst for meaningful, lasting positive change in the area.' The proposed wind farm, situated 3.5km to the East of Netherthird, could feature up to eight turbines, each with a maximum tip height of 250 metres, placing them among the most efficient in the UK. If given the go-ahead, the project has the potential to generate up to 161.5 GWh of electricity each year, enough to power approximately 55,000 homes while also providing a minimum of £5,000 per megawatt annually in community funding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad OnPath is committed to shared ownership across all its new onshore wind projects, offering local communities 1% free equity, with the opportunity to invest further at market value as part of its OnPath Together development approach. Ewan Robertson, project manager for the Cumnock and Doon Valley wind farm proposal said: 'These exhibitions are a key milestone in our journey, giving us the chance to speak directly with the people who know this area best. 'We're not coming in with fixed ideas. We want to listen, understand local priorities, and make sure the final plans reflect those voices. 'Whether it's concerns, aspirations, or ideas for how the community could benefit, every comment will be considered when shaping what comes next. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We'll return later this year with a second round of consultation, showing how that feedback has influenced the design, the community benefit offer, and how shared ownership could give local people a real stake in the project.' OnPath Energy has been a leading force in the onshore renewables sector for nearly two decades. In 2025, the company expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of two new sites, Pates Hill Wind Farm in West Lothian and Milton Keynes Wind Farm in England. Construction is also set to begin on three additional wind farms within the next 18 months, Mill Rig Wind Farm near Darvel in South Lanarkshire, as well as the Lethans and Lethans Extension Wind Farms near New Cumnock in East Ayrshire. Further developments are underway, including plans for the Bodinglee Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire and the recently approved Pond Flexible Energy Park near Bathgate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Owned by leading alternative asset manager Brookfield, the companies OnPath Together development approach, ensures renewable energy projects are more than just wind farms. Each project is designed to be a long-term asset that delivers real value for the communities it serves. OnPath Together is built on collaboration and trust, placing local engagement, investment, and education at its core. This people-first approach ensures that every project leaves a lasting economic, social and environmental legacy, benefiting both people and the planet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more about OnPath Energy, please visit: To learn more about the Cumnock and Doon Valley proposals, visit:
